Class 321/9 Query

[Aictos]

While at Leeds awaiting the Grand Central to Bradford Interchange, I noticed one of the WYTPE 321s stabled in Platform 7 which had something which the other 321/3s and 321/4s as operated by London Midland, First Capital Connect and National Express East Anglia don't seem to have.

Where the skirting is around the tightlock coupling there seems to be two small lights built in exactly the same height above the rail and the same distance from each other.

Anyone know what they actually are please?

I'm sure I don't need to supply links to photos of the 321/9s as they can easily be found on Wikipedia.

 

[Turbostar]

Yes, they are indeed little lights built into the skirt, whether they are used or not I don't know. As no other 321's have them, it's my guess since the 3 321/9's have been operated on behalf of West Yorkshire PTE since new, it might have been an addition WYPTE requested to have on the 3 units. I'm sure someone else will be able to elaborate more on these 3 units.

 

[Dave R]

judging by this they didnt have them from new

http://www.therailwaycentre.com/EMU photo file/321_9WYPTE

this however shows the same unit prior to it gaining northern/wypte livery... with the lights

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/21/Northern-321901-01.jpg

 

[Turbostar]

I found a photo dated 2001, & the units had the lights then.

 

[bluenoxid]

Installed at the refurb that they had around the time that they were repainted. They help them meet the standards, whatever they are.

 

[Turbostar]

The units were refurbished in 2006/07, the lights had already been installed way before then, as said in my previous post, I found a photo dated 2001, & a unit had them then.

 

[455driver]

They help them meet the standards, whatever they are.

Somebody in an office probably read something and decided they were needed, have never seen them switched on though. Maybe they are fog lights and only to be used by the boy racer drivers in broad daylight

 

[The_Stig]

I think they may be Hazard lights.

 

[asylumxl]

Maybe they're actually made to house fully automatic firearms, to shoot 321 hating train enthusiasts on the sly...

 

[455driver]

Knowing the line they work on putting machine guns in there would be a very good idea indeed, chavtastic.

 

[driver9000]

I think they may be Hazard lights.

I'd agree with that, flashing hazard warning lamps used to warn oncoming drivers of an obstruction or other situation they must stop immediately for.

On more modern trains this feature is built into the headlamp unit I'm not sure why an additional light fitting was opted for for these trains though....

 

[The_Stig]

I'd agree with that, flashing hazard warning lamps used to warn oncoming drivers of an obstruction or other situation they must stop immediately for.

On more modern trains this feature is built into the headlamp unit I'm not sure why an additional light fitting was opted for for these trains though....

Yeah, the 320 doesn't have them but the 322's do, built into the headlights like you say.

 

[O L Leigh]

On more modern trains this feature is built into the headlamp unit I'm not sure why an additional light fitting was opted for for these trains though....

Or, more pertinently, why this feature was even added. There is no requirement for hazard lights.

O L Leigh

 

[The_Stig]

Or, more pertinently, why this feature was even added. There is no requirement for hazard lights.

O L Leigh

What do you mean?

 

[O L Leigh]

New trains have these as built, but older trains are not required to be modified to have them.

The Cl317/7's have hazards, but they are the only Cl317 sub-class with this feature. They were added when they were re-built, but there was no requirement for them to have to do this. They could have just left them without, the same as all the rest.

O L Leigh

 

[455driver]

Hazard lights have to be fitted to new trains, but there is no requirement to retrofit them to older trains.

 

[The_Stig]

New trains have these as built, but older trains are not required to be modified to have them.

The Cl317/7's have hazards, but they are the only Cl317 sub-class with this feature. They were added when they were re-built, but there was no requirement for them to have to do this. They could have just left them without, the same as all the rest.

O L Leigh

Ah, I see your point. Hmmm. Stumped lol!